About the Colloquium

Provides an overview of policy basics, and how decisions are made governing the course and future of earth and atmospheric sciences

Provides opportunities for participants to meet and dialog with the federal officials, Congressional staffers and others who make those decisions

Surveys current science policy issues

Uses the case study method to explore a limited number of issues, both past and present, in depth and detail

Helps participants build skills, experience, and contacts they can use throughout their careers to understand and influence the atmospheric policy process

Helps participants gauge their aptitude for and interest in the challenges of matching science to national priorities, and scientific program leadership

Who can attend?

Mid-level federal managers and scientists

Mid-level private-sector executives

University faculty

Selected graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of demonstrated scientific and leadership potential

Details:

Participation is limited to no more than 40 participants

Attendance at all sessions is required

$5700 registration fee includes all sessions, workshops, tours/briefings, and materials. Please note: the $5700 registration fee does not include room and board or travel.

Students and faculty members can apply for funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). A funding award from the NSF covers the registration fee, room and board, and travel. Faculty members must be from an HBCU or MSI in order to qualify for funding.

Sessions will take place in the AAAS Building

Hotel room block available at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center

Sample Agenda

Please note participants are expected to attend all sessions. During lunch participants will have the pleasure of dining with the speakers and often use this time to work on group exercises you will be assigned. Multi-tasking during the sessions is highly discouraged and will lessen the impact of the course.

Reading materials

Each year we develop a reading list as a primer on science policy before you arrive for the Colloquium. Attendees review the materials in advance, as some sessions may assume knowledge of major concepts. In addition, attendees are assigned two case studies.The following are books read by previous groups:

Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship Is Poisoning the U.S. House of Representatives,, by Juliet Eilperin

High Noon, by J. F. Rischard

Environment and Statecraft, by Scott Barrett

Storm World, by Chris Mooney

CRS Primer (PDF)

Where Are They Now?

The first Summer Policy Colloquium was held in 2001 for about 40 bright minds from the AMS community who showed interest in and potential to contribute significantly to the policy process. To date, about 500 such individuals have completed the program. They have proceeded through their careers to roles such as:

Congressional staff in personal offices

Serving on congressional committees such as the Select Committee on Global Warming & Energy Independence